Lee Moyer reworked one of my drawings from 13 True Ways and turned it into something entirely unique for the cover of the first issue of 13th Age Monthly. Click on the image to be redirected to Pelgrane Press for subscription information. Also, for your consideration, a kickstarter for a novel set in the 13th Age universe written by Greg Stolze. Find out how to contribute to The Forgotten Monk.

Today is the final countdown for backing Of Dust and Blood by Jim Berry and Val Mayerik. The original graphic novel is funded, so backers are guaranteed a book, but the Kickstarter has a stretchgoal for getting the book in full watercolor by Val! I did the drawing below to support the cause and the original is currently available as one of the pledge goals. India Ink on Bristol paper, 22″ x 13.5″. Please consider contributing to the project. Thank you!

Stepping Out: I left Portland a couple weekends ago to meet my dad in San Diego for the Reuben Award weekend, and the days have just been ticking away since then. I think meeting and just sharing the room with so many legends in cartooning set my brain on fire and it’s still smoldering. I “talked shop” with Sergio Aragonés and Russ Heath, shook hands with Mel Lazarus and Rick Geary, just to name a few. Here’s a picture of my dad with some of the cartoonists at our table during the award ceremony. Can you spot a Dan Piraro or a Matthew Diffee? I’d like to do a thorough report of my experience. It really was a remarkable weekend, but I’m going to have to put that on the back burner for the time being.

Kicking In: I would like to direct the attention of anyone in the industry to the National Cartoonists Society because they are looking to expand the roster of qualifying members. There are new perks for being a member that are in the works. That’s right, “Perks in the Werks!” You can find out everything you need to know about joining at the newly renovated website HERE.

Kicking In: I recently contributed to a Kickstarter that my friend, photographer, comic book collector, and comic book writer Jim Berry is running to fund the production of a thrilling graphic novel about The Battle Of The Little Big Horn (Greasy Grass) featuring art by legendary illustrator, Val Mayerik. Please take a look at the Of Dust and Blood Kickstarter and consider pitching in to make this book a reality.

Stepping Out…to the comic shop, I encountered a number of excellent books coming out right now. Probably at the top pf my list for entertainment is Starlight written by Mark Millar with art by Goran Parlov that is just riddled with nods and homages galore to the late, great Moebius. I’ll sign off with this piece of Starlight fan art that was created in everyone’s favorite new graphic software, Manga Studio 5. Stepping out of my comfort zone to learn this new tool, after kicking in some cash to buy it;-)

Have you ever heard of the legendary book titled “The Studio?” I’ve only heard of the book myself and haven’t actually seen it, but it collects artwork by Jeffrey Jones, Michael Kaluta, Barry Windsor Smith and Berni Wrightson into a single volume. Well, that book made a splash in 1979 and became a legend. I’m going to put my futurist thinking cap on and boldly compare “The Studio” to Periscope Studio’s Kickstarter project Maiden Voyage. At the $95 pledge level one receives a hardbound volume collecting artwork by 6 members of Periscope Studio, Portland, Oregon: Benjamin Dewey, David Hahn, Paul Guinan, Ron Randall, Erika Moen, and Natalie Nourigat. Of course there are lower pledge level alternatives, and higher pledges with tantalizing rewards, but either way I hope you consider a contribution to the Kickstarter. If Maiden Voyage successfully launches we’ll be able to continue kickstarting artbooks by the other members of the studio (myself included), but it all starts HERE! Thanks for your consideration!

Just a quick post to say I’m backing a kickstarter project that ends today. P. Craig Russell has significantly influenced the way I think about comics and I look forward to learning more about his work through this DVD series. Take a look!